Collapsible carton



March 1, 1966 c. H. KEITH 3,237,840

COLLAPS IBLE CARTON Original Filed Jan. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD H. KEITH ATTORNEY March I, 1966 c. H. KEITH COLLAPSIBLE CARTON5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 10, 1961 FIG. 8

FIG. I2

INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD H. KEITH ATTORNEY March 1, 1966 c. H. KEITH COLLAPSIBLE CARTON5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 10, 1961 FIG. 9

INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD H. KEITH AT TORNE Y March 1, 1966 c. H. KEITH 3,237,840

COLLAPS IBLE CARTON Original Filed Jan. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7/ 727g 4 f f l I I l f l c916 FIG. I7

INVENTOR CLIFFORD H. KEITH F '6. I8

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofihce 3,237,849 Patented Mar. 1, 19663,237,840 CGLLAPSIBLE CARTON Clifford H. Keith, Cincinnati, Ohio,assignor to The Mead (Zorporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of OhioOriginal application Jan. 10, 1961, Scr. No. 81,865, now Patent No.3,107,042, dated Oct. 15, 1963. Divided and this application Oct. 9,1963, Ser. No. 314,951 Claims. (Cl. 22941) This application is adivision of application Serial No. 81,865, filed January 10, 1961, whichnow has issued as Patent No. 3,107,042 on October 15, 1963.

The present invention relates to a collapsible carton and moreparticularly to a collapsible carton formed from a single blank ofcorrugated cardboard or equivalent material die cut and creased todefine five rows of horizontally aligned edge-joined panels, the middleset of which are joined at their free edges to define acircumferentially continuous carton liner, the upper and lower rowsbeing folded to the outside and then likewise joined at their free edgesto define continuous outer carton portions telescopically engageableover the top and bottom ends of the carton liner, and the intermediaterows being notched and creased so as to automatically interleave to formthe top and bottom closures as the carton parts are telescoped together.

Specifically, there is provided a single die cut blank of corrugatedcardboard or similar relatively stiff but bendable material. The blankhas a central row of edge-joined panels, the free edges of the endpanels of which are joined to each other as by the use of a strip ofadhesive tape to define a circumferentially continuous carton inner wallor liner. The blank also has a top and bottom row of panels folded tothe outer side of the carton and similarly joined at their free edges todefine continuous bands telescopically slidable over the upper and lowerends of the liner portion. Between the said upper and central and againbetween the central and lower rows of panels, which define the doublethickness walls of the carton, there is a row of closure forming panelseach of which is centrally and horizontally creased so as to be foldableupon itself and is cut away along the edge of one or both halves thereofto define a notch into which the folded edge of an adjacent panel mayextend as said closure forming panels fold inwardly and interleavinglyto auto matically form multiply top and bottom closures of the carton asthe wall portions thereof are telescoped together, or to open the sameon a reverse movement of the parts.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a single blankcarton having telescopically mating inner and outer walls and top andbottom closures automatically closed or opened by the relativetelescopic movements of the carton walls.

It is another object to provide a carton of this type which can becollapsed into a flat package for shipping or storage either before orafter use as a carton.

It is another object to provide a device of the character described inwhich all of the blank material initially en compassed within itsmargins is utilized to provide multiple walls for the carton sides andclosure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible cartonwhich is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yeteffective and efiicient in use.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a closed carton embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the carton of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the carton of FIG- URE 1,illustrating the beginning of the top opening operation;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the carton fully open at both topand bottom;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the opened carton of FIGURE 4collapsed into a flat package;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the carton in section taken on line 66 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the die cut blank prior to any foldingoperations;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper half of the showing ofFIGURE 7, illustrating the folding operations producing the interleavingclosure ele ments;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the blank immediately prior to folding intoits tubular condition;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper ri ht portionof FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the upper end of the assembledcarton;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view showing the upper closure structure partiallyclosed;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the beginning ofthe infolding operation that closes the upper closure member;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the upper closuremember more nearly closed;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank for a modifiefid form ofthe carton;

FIGURE 16 is a plan view of the partially closed carton formed by theblank of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary elevational view of the showing of FIGURE 16,in section and taken on line 17-17 of FIGURE 16; and,

FIGURE 18 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 16 but showing the cartonfully closed.

With reference now to FIGURES 1 through 14 of the drawings, numeral 20generally designates the die cut rectangular blank. Blank 20 may be cutfrom any suit able sheet material such as corrugated cardboard. Acentral transverse extending row of rectangular panels 21 through 26defines the inner or liner portion of the two ply carton, said linerbeing generally designated by numeral 27. The panels 21 through 26 aredefined by the hinge score lines at 287 A second row of panels 29through 34 is collectively designated by numeral 35. The panels of row35 are similarly hingedly connected and defined by score lines 36. Therow of panels 35 constitutes the lower portion of the telescopic outermembers of the completed carton.

The upper portion of the outside carton walls is formed by a row 37consisting of panels 38 through 43 similarly joined by score lines 44.

As best seen in FIGURE 7, each of the panels 21 through 26 is joined atits lower edge along fold lines 45 to the upper end of one of theidentical panels 46 which form the bottom closure of the carton in amanner hereinafter fully described.

The panels 46 are likewise connected at their lower ends to the upperedges of panels 29 through 34 at scored hinge lines at 47.

Each panel 46 has impressed therein a double score line 48 horizontallyand medially disposed in the right half of each panel 46. Each panel 46is separated from adjacent panel 46 by a die cut slit 49. Each panel 46is further provided with a slit 5G and with a pair of score lines 51,which together define flaps 52, the purpose of which will hereinafter bemore fully described.

Liner panels 21 through 26 are similarly connected to the upper outsidepanels 38 through 43 by a series of identical panels 53 which, exceptfor their location, are substantially identical with the closure panels46 described above. Panels 53 are severed from each other by theseverance lines 54, and are slit medially at 55 to define in cooperationwith score lines 56, the flaps 57. Like panels 46 previously described,closure panels 53 are hingedly connected at their upper and lower endsrespectively to .the panels of row 37 and row 27 at score lines 58 and59. Double score lines 60 divide panels 53 into lower and upper halvesfoldable onto each other about score lines 60'.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate the next step of folding flaps 52 and 57against the inside surfaces of folding closure panels 46 and 53,respectively, in which positions they are firmly retained by applicationof adhesive to the engaging surfaces thereof.

FIGURES 9 and 10 show the next step of folding the outside panel rows 37and 35, respectively, down over the upper portion of panels 53 andupwardly over the bottom portion of closure panels 46.

The final assembly step is indicated in FIGURE 5 in which the free endsof rows 37, 27 and 35, respectively, are joined together by strips ofadhesive tape 61, 62 and 63-. The strips of adhesive tape 61, 62 and 63hingedly connect the adjacent edges of the panel rows aforesaid.

To erect the box, the same is positioned as shown in FIGURE 4, standingon the row of panels 35 as a base. Downward pressure on the upper edgeof panel row 37 initiates the inward bowing of the rows of closurepanels 53 and 46 as shown in FIGURES 3, 12, 13 and 14. Further downwardmovement of panel row 37 (now defining a hexagon in plan view) causesthe interleaving of the closure panels, as shown in FIGURE 12 toprogress toward the closure panel arrangement of FIGURE 2, and furtherinitiates the telescoping of outside carton portions 37 and 35 over theliner portion 27 to bring the parts of the carton first into the nearlyclosed condition of FIG- URE 3 and finally into the fully closedcondition of FIG- URE 1.

Because of the greater vertical dimension of panel row 35 as compared topanel row 37, the frictional inter-engagement between panel row 35 andliner 27 will be greater than between liner 27 and panel row 37. Thus,an upwardly exerted pull on portion 37 will tend to cause an opening ofthe upper closure formed by panels 53 before liner 27 will begin toslide from the lower outside carton portion 35. Only when it is desiredto re-collapse the carton back to its condition of FIGURE 5 for storage,will liner 27 be withdrawn from the lower carton portion 35.

In the species of FIGURES 15 through 18, numeral 70 generally designatesthe die cut rectangular blank. Blank 70 has the same basic constructionand arrangement of parts described in the species of FIGURES 1 through14, and, therefore, only the portions thereof containing the structuraldifferences have been illustrated in FIGURES 15 through 18.

The row of edge-joined panels 71-76 form the upper outer carton Wallportions and correspond to telescopic part 37 of the first-describedspecies. The row of edgejoined panels 77-82 (corresponding to panels21-26) constitute the inner wall or liner of this carton.

Blank 70 differs from blank 20 essentially in the configurations ofclosure forming panels 83-88, which interleave to form the upperclosure. (The lower closure, not shown, is of similar construction.)However, panels 83- 88 are only laterally disconnected from theiradjacent panels for half of their lengths by the cut out areasdesignated 89. These areas receive the edges of panels 83-88 when theyfold about their scored midlines 90. The upper portions of the panels83-88 are laterally joined by integral webs 91 and 92 defined by scoredfold lines 93, 94 and 95, which render the webs sufiiciently flexible toinsure proper interleaving of the closure forming panels 83- 88. Webs 91and 92 perform the important function of providing a seal between theadjacent upper edges of closure panels 83-88 to prevent leakage into orfrom the carton between the overlapped panel portions. The free edges ofpanel rows 77-82 and 83-88 are joined (as by adhesive tape 96) to formcircumferentially continuous paneled bands, as in the first-describedspecies.

As panels 77-82 telescope down over panels 83-88 (FIGURE-S 16 and 17),webs 91 and 92 first fold toward each other about fold lines 94 topermit initiation of the interleaving of panels 83-88, and then as theprocess continues they unfold into their initial coplanar relationships(as shown in phantom in FIGURE 18).

While the foregoing presents preferred embodiments and methods of thepresent invention, it is obvious that other modifications and/ orequivalents may be employed without departing from the scope of theinvention, which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A plurality of edge-joined panels defining a circumferentiallycontinuous inner wall of a carton, a like number of edge-joined panelsdefining the lower portion of the outer wall of said carton, a matingset of edge-joined panels defining the upper portion of the outer wallof said carton, and sets of vertically elongated closure forming panelsjoining the top and bottom edges of said inner Wall panels respectivelyto the top and bottom edges of the panels defining the upper and thelower outer wall portions, each of said closure forming panels having ahorizontal medial fold crease formed therein and being provided with atleast one vertically elongated wedge-shaped cut-out area in and alongone side thereof with the apex of said area lying at a corner of saidpanel and the base of said area being closely adjacent the medial foldcrease, said closure forming panels having wedge-shaped creasedefinedwebs connecting lateral edges of adjacent panels beyond the base of saidcut-out areas and having fold creases extending longitudinally and fromthe apices thereof to enhance the flexibility thereof, said webs sealingthe margins of the fiat spaces between interleaved panels againstleakage, whereby said latter panels will fold inwardly with eachreceiving the medially folded edge of an adjacent panel within thepocket defined by the base of said area to provide a sequentialinterleaving of said sets of closure forming panels to define top andbottom closures for said carton as said upper and lower outer wallportions are telescoped axially over the upper and lower ends of saidcarton inner Wall.

2. Structure according to claim 1, said carton being formed of a singledie cut blank, the upper and lower edge-joined panels of which arefolded to the outside thereof after which said blank is formed into atubular configuration by joining the free edges of each set ofedge-joined panels.

3. Structure according to claim 2, said free edges being joined bystrips of adhesive coated sheet material.

4. Structure according to claim 1, said blank, for economy ofmanufacture, having the surface thereof providing the telescopicallyengaging and normally concealed surfaces of said carton, provided with aless expensive finish than the other surface of the blank providing theinner and outer surfaces of said carton,

5. Structure according to claim 1, said panels defining the lowerportion of the carton outer wall being considerably greater in verticaldimension than said panels defining the upper portion of the cartonouter wall, whereby the latter portion will tend to move more readilyrelatively to the carton inner wall due to smaller friction producingcontact therebetween, so as to open without objectionable movement ofsaid lower outer carton portion relative to the inner carton wall when acarton-opening poll is exerted between said outer Wall portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,013,691 9/1935Martinson.

5 2,091,291 8/ 1937 Ringler 229--43 X 2,577,588 12/1951 Paige. 3,107,04210/ 1963 Keith 22941 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 10 FRANKLIN T.GARRETT, Examiner.

1. A PLURALITY OF EDGE-JOINED PANELS DEFINING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLYCONTINUOUS INNER WALL OF A CARTON, A LIKE NUMBER OF EDGE-JOINED PANELSDEFINING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE OUTER WALL OF SAID CARTON, A MATINGSET OF EDGE-JOINED PANELS DEFINING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE OUTER WALLOF SAID CARTON, AND SETS OF VERTICALLY ELONGATED CLOSURE FORMING PANELSJOINING THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID INNER WALL PANELS RESPECTIVELYTO THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OF THE PANELS DEFINING THE UPPER AND THELOWER OUTER WALL PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID CLOSURE FORMING PANELS HAVING AHORIZONTAL MEDIAL FOLD CREASE FORMED THEREIN AND BEING PROVIDED WITH ATLEAST ONE VERTICALLY ELONGATED WEDGE-SHAPED CUT-OUT AREA IN AND ALONGONE SIDE THEREOF WITH THE APEX OF SAID AREA BEING CLOSELY ADJACENT THEMEDIAL FOLD CREASE, SAID AREA BEING CLOSELY ADJACENT THE MEDIAL FOLDCREASE, SAID CLOSURE FORMING PANELS HAVING WEGE-SHAPED CREASDEFINED WEBSCONNECTING LATERAL EDGES OF ADJACENT PANELS BEYOND THE BASE OF SAIDCUT-OUT AREAS AND HAVING FOLD CREASE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND FROMAND THE APICES THEREOF TO ENHANCE THE FLEXIBILITY THEREOF, SAID WEBSEALING THE MARGINS OF THE FLAT SPACES BETWEEN INTERLEAVED PANELSAGAINST LEAKAGE, WHEREBY SAID LATTER PANELS WILL FOLD INWARDLY WITH EACHRECEIVING THE MEDIALLY FOLDED EDGE OF AN ADJACENT PANEL WITHIN THEPOCKET DEFINED BY THE BASE OF SAID AREA TO PROVIDE A SEQUENTIALINTERLEAVING OF SAID SETS OF CLOSURE FORMING PANELS TO DEFINE TOP ANDBOTTOM CLOSURES FOR SAID CARTON AS SAID UPPER AND LOWER OUTER WALLPORTIONS ARE TELESCOPED AXIALLY OVER HE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF SAIDCARTON INNER WALL.